(May 22 – 25)World's Largest Brat Fest

Madison, WI

There's music on four stages, the world's largest touring grill (a Johnsonville semi that can cook 750 brats at a time), the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile, carnival rides and Sunday fireworks. Admission is free. Outside the Alliant Energy Center.

(Jun 5 – 7)Fresh Art Spring Tour

(Jun 5 – 7)Milk Days

Harvard, IL

The festival in this small town just south of Lake Geneva, Wis., is the longest running in the state. There are milk-drinking contests, milking demonstrations, cow-chip lotto, bed races and a parade at 1 p.m. Saturday.

(Jun 6)Milwaukee Highland Games

(Jun 7)Grand Old Day

St. Paul, MN

When the weather's nice, crowds turn out for this street fair, during which Grand Avenue is divided into "districts'': entertainment, family fun and sports. A parade starts at 9:30 a.m. from Grand and Dale.

(Jun 20 – 21)Midsummer Fest

Coon Valley, WI

This family festival at Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center, in the coulees near La Crosse, features the best of Scandinavian culture: food, music and crafts. For children, there will be a visit from the trolls by the bridge, fjord horses and a scavenger hunt.

(Jun 26 – 27)Midwest Viking/Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival

(Jun 26 – 27)Engineers Day/Bridge Walk

Sault Ste. Marie, MI

It's the biggest week of the year for boat nerds at the Soo Locks. Friday is the Engineers Day open house (people can walk across the locks). Saturday is the 2.8-mile International Bridge Walk (people can walk to Canada).

(Jul 1 – 5)Sawdust Days

Oshkosh, WI

This festival in Menominee Park, next to Lake Winnebago, celebrates the logging era, when Oshkosh was known as Sawdust City. It includes a historic village, flea market, carnival, Fourth of July fireworks and music on four stages, including Sabor-a-Mexico.

(Jul 4 – 11)National Cherry Festival

Traverse City, MI

This town on Lake Michigan attracts half a million people to events that include air shows, an arts fair, music, races, the big Cherry Royale Parade and many contests, including pie-eating and pit-spitting.

(Jul 9 – 12)Windmill City Festival

(Jul 10 – 19)Northwest Water Carnival

Detroit Lakes, MN

This big festival celebrates its 81st year with a sand-castle contest, water fights, ship-building (in less than 30 minutes), beer tasting, watermelon feed, bike tour and more. On the last day, there's a big parade at 1 p.m.

(Jul 10 – 12)Blissfest

Cross Village, MI

This family-friendly folk and roots festival on a farm includes reggae, country, zydeco, jazz and Celtic music on three stages and four workshop areas. There's also a juried arts and crafts fair. Rustic camping is available.

(Jul 10 – 12)Wild Rice Festival

(Jul 10 – 19)Fiesta Days

McHenry, IL

There's a Music Fest, carnival and car and motorcycle s Petersen Park the first weekend and a children's ice cream social, Shakespeare Festival, arts and crafts fair and a Sunday parade the second weekend in Veteran's Memorial Park.

(Jul 17 – 19)Highland Fest

(Jul 17 – 19)Festa Italiana

Milwaukee, WI

At the lakefront Henry Maier Festival Park, there's cannoli-eating and pizza-making contests, celebrity chefs, a bocce ball tournament, parades at 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, nightly fireworks and music and dance on five stages and an opera tent.

(Jul 24 – 26)North Star Stampede

(Jul 24 – 26)Pierogi Fest

Whiting, IN

This suburb of Chicago exalts the plump Eastern European dumplings, filled with cheese, mashed potatoes or sauerkraut, with pierogi eating and tossing contests, a Mr. Pierogi songfest and a Polka Parade.

(Aug. 7 – 9)Irish Fair

(Aug. 7 – 9)Uptown Art Fair

Minneapolis, MN

This large juried art fair in the Uptown neighborhood draws crowds. Use a Nice Ride bike or download a free bus/train pass, www.metrotransit.org/artpass, to avoid congestion and to get to the two other art fairs in south Minneapolis.

(Aug. 7 – 9)Twin Cities Polish Festival

(Aug. 8 – 9)Loring and Powderhorn arts festivals

Minneapolis, MN

These smaller festivals in Powderhorn Park, in south Minneapolis, and Loring Park, on the edge of downtown, are not far from the Uptown Art Fair. All are easily reached by bus shuttle or by bicycle on the Midtown Greenway.

(Aug. 13 – 23)Iowa State Fair

(Aug. 13 – 15)Tug Fest

LeClaire and Port Byron, IAIL

The two towns stretch a 680-pound, 2,400-foot rope across the Mississippi River for the ultimate tug of war. (Over 27 years, the score is Illinois 17, Iowa 11.) There's also a parade, fireworks, children's games, concerts and carnival rides.

(Aug. 14 – 16)Oronoco Gold Rush

Oronoco, MN

The antiques show and flea market in this friendly little village just north of Rochester off U.S. 52 includes more than 400 vendors and 1,200 booths. There's also pancakes for breakfast, homemade pie and music.

(Aug. 14 – 16)Grand Portage Powwow & Rendezvous

Grand Portage, MN

Re-enactors from across the continent gather at Grand Portage National Monument for the annual fur-trade rendezvous; next door, the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa holds a powwow. Reserve lodgings far in advance.

(Aug. 15 – 16)Air & Water Show

(Aug. 19 – 23)Venetian Festival

Lake Geneva, WI

In this southeast Wisconsin vacation area, the festival includes a carnival, arts and crafts fair, firefighter water fight and, on Sunday, a water-ski show followed by a lighted boat parade and fireworks.